Gratitude towards teachers is not expressed as much as it should be. Mr. Coffey, a beloved teacher at BEHS who has been teaching for 29 years has recently been overwhelmed with gratitude with an unexpected gift from former students. 

On Monday, January 9, Mr. Coffey received a gift of $16,500 because of the impact he has made on his students’ lives. Hundreds of alumni contributed to this sum to show their appreciation for Mr. Coffey’s influence on them. 

When asked what he was planning to do with the money, Mr. Coffey stated that he wanted to first take a trip to New Orleans during spring break. It had been Mr. Coffey’s wish to go to New Orleans for a long time. 

He said, “I want to see the history and go sightseeing in New Orleans.” He explained that he would love to experience the culture, the food, and the music. He also wants to go sightseeing and look at the many different sights that New Orleans has to offer. 

With the remaining money Mr. Coffey wants to allocate money towards getting better equipment for his multiple sclerosis (MS). He wants to get good equipment so that he doesn’t have to retire as quickly and can keep continuing doing what he loves: teaching. “I love teaching and I want to keep teaching.” 

Mr. Coffey has been and will continue to be an inspiring teacher for many and this gift is a testament to his lasting impact on the Brookfield East community.